We’re collecting together in one post, our favourite old shop tiles from across the borough of Sutton, including Carshalton, Wallington and Cheam. We will be updating this with new information as we receive it.
Come on a journey with us along miles of tiles…
Flowers and bathrooms in Carshalton
Firstly, some beautiful old shop tiles you can still spot between 96 and 98 Carshalton High Street. A fascinating glimpse into the past.
It’s possible the tiles have been there since the shop was first built. The row of shops were re-numbered at some point. Local researcher Mark Donohue told Secret Cashalton, “As of 1925 number 50 (now 96) is John C. Sawyer, boots stores and number 52 (now 98) is Fancy Shop, General fancy goods.”
However, they look like tiles for an old greengrocers. According to research, by 1926 “52 is occcupied by A. Watson, Fruiterer.” So, could this be the company that installed the tiles originally?
Also nearby are some detailed finials, a reminder of the craftsmanship that once went into English buildings.
There’s tiles each side of 30-34 Carshalton High Street, though they aren’t as old as they look. They are believed to have been commissioned by someone called John, a Canadian owner of Village Bathrooms (possibly circa 1990s) – the shop is no longer there.
Seeing green in Wallington
These tiles are at 76 Stafford Road in Wallington. Look at that wonderful detail and colour, set off nicely by an Arts and Crafts style wooden door.
These could date back to when a ‘Horticultural Seed Merchants’ occupied the store. A Secret Carshalton reader says “I lived nearby in 1986 and then it looked like it hadn’t changed in 50 years. The shop had a long wooden counter with shelving behind containing seeds and bulbs.”
This old shop front is next door at 78 Stafford Road.
The tiles surrounding the shop front below, look so dramatic and the workmanship of the floor is impressive.
Situated at 5 Ross Parade in Wallington, research suggests the parade was built circa 1904. This would make them Edwardian. In one 1909 directory, it shows the shop as empty.
However, according to researcher Mark Donohue, “The 1923 directory shows Edgar W. Wheeler, Provision Merchant, he’s there up to the 1937 directory.”
Howard on social media remembers: “Part of that shop was originally Hudson Brothers Grocery and Provisions, who had taken over from Wheelers, Mr Wheeler selling out to them. My dad worked in Wheelers I think after leaving School, so in the 1920’s onwards.”
Mark says, “It was Hudson Bros. Ltd. Grocery & Provisions in newspapers from 1949 to 1959.”
Therefore, the exact date of the tiles and the mosaic floor is not definite at this point.
Serif fonts in Sutton
This tiled sign is probably original to Southdown house at 120 Carshalton Road, Sutton and dated circa 1880. In the early days the address was known as 1 Gladstone Terrace. As of 1890 this was a butcher shop owned by a Mr Hogg, and it’s been various other retail outlets since, but now lies empty.
Marvellous mosaics in Cheam
Over in Cheam village is perhaps the most intact tiles in the whole borough. These are from an old Sainsbury’s grocery store and can be seen at 23 The Broadway. More details and pictures here.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
We reserve the right to update this post as new information comes to light, such as more specific dating. If anyone has more details on what some of the old tiles featured here were for, we’d love to know. We will be adding more places to this list. Let us know if we’ve missed anything.
And some pubs.
The Greyhound:
Scroll down to read about The Racehorse:
Thank you for pointing out these. I know some of them but the Wallington ones I didn’t know.
As a Potter, I love this … will be spotting myself from now on….